Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

The Atlantic hurricane season might have been fast out of the gate this year, but it's looking to rack up fewer storms than normal for the rest of it, federal forecasters say. It's the second year in a row that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a below-normal season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The 2015 forecast calls for six to 11 named storms, three to six of which will become hurricanes. Of those, up to two will become major blows. Forecasters say their prediction has a 70 percent degree of accuracy. A tropical storm has sustained winds of at least 39 mph, while a hurricane has sustained winds of at least 74 mph. A major...

Related "Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" Articles

The tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean between the Caribbean and Africa is weakening, according to the National Hurricane Center.The disturbance went from a 20 percent chance of forming into a hurricane on Thursday to a 10 percent chance on...

With this week's official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, here's a quick reminder about predictions: You shouldn't place your faith in them — or bet your home and property on them, either.
By now, you've probably seen the latest hurricane...

Social media, mobile applications and the Internet served as lifelines to millions of residents in the U.S. Northeast in 2012 when superstorm Sandy knocked out power and most other lines of communication.
As hurricane season 2013 approaches, here is a...

It broke more than just records.
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season devastated American cities, leveled hundreds of homes and claimed thousands of lives.
With 28 named storms — one of which became costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, and one of...

The 2015 hurricane season is shaping up to be one of the quietest hurricane seasons in some 45 years, with a mere 50 percent of normal activity.
The 2015 forecast by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology team, including Dr. Bill Gray,...

Beachgoers were warned away, emergency officials kept a watchful eye and at least one graduation ceremony was forced indoors as Tropical Storm Ana plodded toward the Carolinas on Saturday in an early heaping of rough weather weeks ahead of the official...

Parts of Central Florida got soaked Wednesday by what forecasters say could turn into the first named storm of this year's hurricane season.
It was broad, it was wet and it slowly moved away from Florida, but not before dropping heavy rain across much of...

AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane predictions as much as a week from impact. A graphic showing where and when the wind will start to grow mean. And forecasts for a storm that hasn't even formed yet.
These are some potential tools of the near future that...

Interactive mapping that went live for the public Thursday shows eye-opening risk for storm surges caused by hurricanes.For example, Central Florida communities along the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay would be heavily washed over by a...

A tropical-storm warning remains in effect for the Bahamas as a slow-moving system heads toward the region with 35 mph sustained winds and higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said.
The tropical depression is expected to gain strength as it...

Driving down from Virginia in July 2004 to start their new lives in Poinciana, Josh Folb and his wife had this conversation:
"Hey, wait a minute. There are hurricanes in Florida," Josh said.
"They don't happen that often," replied...

For six weeks, Florida reeled under the assault of four hurricanes.
First Charley struck Port Charlotte Aug. 13, 2004, with 150-mph winds. It blasted its way into Central Florida five hours later with winds clocked at 105 mph at Orlando International...

Ten years ago Hurricane Charley came barreling up Interstate 4 beginning Florida's season of tropical pain.Charley first formed as a tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 9 and so began the summer of our discontent. It organized just north...

Tropical Storm Bertha has formed near Barbados and appears to be taking aim at Puerto Rico, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center.The alert about the storm came late Thursday night. According to the 11 p.m. advisory issued by the...

Hurricane forecasters continue to watch an area of disturbed weather about 850 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.
In its 8 p.m. update this evening, the National Hurricane Center said the tropical wave of shower and thunderstorm activity has...

Tropical disturbance, 2 p.m. Friday
OUTLOOK: A disturance in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico lost some of its punch in the past few hours. But it still could become the season's first tropical depression or storm by this evening before it moves...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Would more residents of New Orleans have evacuated ahead of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 if it had been named Kurt?
A study published on Monday suggests they would have, perhaps reducing Katrina's death toll of more than 1,800.
Because...

Storm prognosticators Phil Klotzbach and William Gray still think this will be a slower than normal storm season – but busier than first predicted.
The Colorado State University climatologists now call for 10 named storms, including four hurricanes, with...

Mary Emerson will never forget Charley.
The Category 4 hurricane blew the roof off her house.
"I had moved from Boston to get away from bad weather," said Emerson, who relocated from Beantown in 1985 and had little reason to regret the...